Moran internal poll a warning to challengers — Pence goes on the air, but not for the reason you think — Only in Score: A chat with Jason Kander

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WARNING SHOT — Moran internals show steep hill for primary challenger — Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran is throwing an early elbow at potential GOP primary challengers, hoping to prove well ahead of time that he’s no Pat Roberts. In an internal poll by Glen Bolger of Public Opinion Strategies, Moran has 95-percent name ID and 66 percent favorability among likely GOP primary voters, including 70-percent favorability among conservative voters. That poll also found that 57 percent of likely primary voters want to reelect Moran, while 32 percent want a new Republican senator. In a head-to-head with Milton Wolf, who took on Roberts last year, Moran comes out on top, 70-18. Read the internal poll here first: http://bit.ly/1EVWNTj

— Easter plans: While it’s likely to be at least a month before Moran officially announces his reelection campaign, he told us that he’s using the long recess to finish up his plans to visit all 105 Kansas counties — another contrast to Roberts and the residency issues that dogged him in 2014.

AIR PENCE — Mike Pence’s Indiana gubernatorial campaign is spending money on a new television ad to tout a controversial legislative priority, but it’s not what you think. A new spot from Pence, which first appeared on the airwaves over the weekend, urges the repeal of the 1935 Common Construction Wage Act, which establishes boards to set wages for state public-works projects. The legislation, opposed by Democrats and organized labor, is tied up in the state Senate. The data on the ad buys are incomplete, but the campaign has spots running in at least the Indianapolis and Fort Wayne markets through today. Here’s the ad, produced by Brabender Cox: http://on.fb.me/1G1RlUD

CATCHING UP WITH JASON KANDER — Campaign Pro spoke with the Missouri secretary of about his uphill race against GOP Sen. Roy Blunt. The 33-year-old Democrat and veteran of the war in Afghanistan rejected the notion that Missouri is trending conservative. Some highlights from the conversation, for Campaign Pro subscribers: http://politico.pro/1I0yTfQ

As Joe Heck offers an agenda and a pair of would-be presidents warm up their campaigns, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: daily news, notes and essential information for the 2015 and 2016 election cycles.

GIVE ‘EM HECK? — Nevada GOP Rep. Joe Heck addressed a joint session of the state legislature last night, and while the three-term congressman didn’t mention the state’s now-open Senate race, his speech laid out what a potential Heck statewide candidacy might look like. Heck focused on four wonky policy areas — addressing the Silver State’s doctor shortage, expanding technical and job-focused educational programs, Nevada’s status as an unmanned-drone test state and reforming the U.S. visa programs to encourage more international travel. In some cases, he urged the new GOP majorities in the legislature to back Gov. Brian Sandoval’s efforts to expand funding for health care and education, which have been opposed by many conservatives. He also touted his bipartisan cred, name-dropping Democratic Reps. Kathy Castor, Raúl Gríjalva and Dan Lipinski as legislative partners.

— Heck has said that running for Senate would hurt his performance as a congressman and brigadier general in the Army Reserve — and Harry Reid’s retirement wouldn’t change that. But he’s the second choice of many Republicans behind Sandoval, and last night’s speech sounded like a potential playbook if he reverses course.

** A message from Fuels America: Ethanol tax breaks expired in 2012. Oil company tax breaks started during the Wilson Administration and continue without end. Washington has been picking oil as a “winner” for more than a century. The Renewable Fuel Standard levels the playing field so that homegrown, American fuels have access to the market. Learn more: http://bit.ly/1NjPRWF **

ILLINOIS SENATE — Duckworth in: In a YouTube video posted Monday morning, Illinois Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth announced her bid for Senate against incumbent GOP Sen. Mark Kirk. The two-minute clip describes Duckworth’s hard-luck childhood and her family’s reliance on food stamps. She also describes in detail the injury that cost her both legs in Iraq — when an RPG tore through her aircraft during a combat mission. “I’m running for the United States Senate in 2016 because it’s time for Washington to be held accountable and put Illinois’ families and communities first,” she says in a straight-to-camera shot. Kirk, in a statement responding to Duckworth’s entrance, described his brand of “thoughtful, independent leadership” as he prepares to embark on his reelection campaign.

— Bustos out: Illinois Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos said that she won’t run for Senate after Duckworth entered the race against GOP Sen. Mark Kirk. “I can’t see jumping into a race at this time when we already have such a strong fighter for working men and women and veterans,” Bustos said in a statement, describing Duckworth as a “friend and colleague” with “the priorities we need in our next U.S. senator.” But Bustos stopped short of an outright endorsement. “We’ve got a deep bench of strong potential candidates in Illinois, many of whom are friends and colleagues. I’m not making any formal endorsement at this time,” she said. “But if you look at Tammy's record of standing up for American manufacturing, for working women and their families, and for our veterans, it's clear to me she fights for the things that are important to my constituents.”

DEMS SEE GOLD IN PENCE BILL SIGNING — Democrats are licking their chops over the controversy swirling around Indiana Gov. Mike Pence in the wake of his decision to sign a bill that supporters say is about religious freedom but opponents call an enshrinement of discrimination in state law. In a memo titled “The Next Pence,” the DGA examines which governors are likely to be confronted by similar bills this session. “This is a critical test for incumbent governors who face the voters in November 2016, including Pence and North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory,” the committee writes. “And the issue will force Republican gubernatorial candidates in 2016 — in states like Montana and Washington — to answer where they stand on discrimination.” The DGA also pinpoints Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as likely to face the same issues — though none of them are up for reelection until 2018. (Notably, McCrory said Monday that an Indiana-like bill “makes no sense” in North Carolina. http://bit.ly/19D45CL)

— The Indianapolis Star made a statement this morning too, with a pointed front-page editorial: http://bit.ly/19tYbUO

CASH RACE — The Center for Public Integrity takes a deep dive into the holes in campaign finance transparency with a new piece that highlight an unusual donation to President Obama in 2012: a $1.2 million contribution from rapper Pras Michael of Fugees fame. The donation was made through a super PAC called Black Men Vote, and his contribution turned out to be more than 90 percent of the total raised by the committee. http://bit.ly/1EXbHJ4

ANOTHER TRAGEDY IN MISSOURI — Spokesman for Auditor Schweich dead in apparent suicide: The spokesman for former Missouri state Auditor Tom Schweich has been found dead in his Jefferson City apartment, according to various local media reports. According to reports, police have indicated that Spence Jackson’s death is being investigated as a suicide. Jefferson City police would not confirm his death on Sunday night, telling outlets that they would release more information on Monday morning. A source told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Jackson took a sick day on Friday. Schweich took his own life at his suburban St. Louis home a little more than a month ago.

STAFFING UP — Fiorina adds a New Hampshire operative: Carly Fiorina’s camp confirmed that it’s hired Kerry Marsh as its New Hampshire state director, a move first reported by NH Journal. http://bit.ly/1BJVyps

START YOUR ENGINES — “Clinton advisers take early state tour,” by POLITICO’s Gabriel Debenedetti, with Annie Karni: “Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager-in-waiting Robby Mook and Democratic operative Marlon Marshall are spending time in Iowa and New Hampshire this week, meeting with political influencers in the first two voting states in the presidential nominating process, a Democratic source confirmed on Monday … While two Iowa county Democratic Party chairmen reached by POLITICO said they had not heard from Mook, both reported that Paul recently landed back in Iowa after his stint at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, and that his return had spurred a new burst of energy surrounding Clinton’s candidacy.” http://politi.co/1MqGuY7

— “Rubio confirms April 13 launch,” by POLITICO’s Marc Caputo: “Florida Sen. Marco Rubio confirmed Monday that he plans to make a big April 13 announcement — likely his presidential bid and likely at the Freedom Tower, an iconic Miami building ... ‘We haven’t reserved a specific site yet … I won’t confirm that,’ Rubio said on ‘The Five,’ one of Fox News’ most-watched talk shows. ‘But I will announce on April 13 what I’m going to do next in terms of running for president or the U.S. Senate.’ http://politi.co/1Dmrc2n

CODA — QUOTE OF THE DAY: “If nothing else, I am a principled, disciplined and loyal man.” — former Texas Gov. Rick Perry on why he backed his lieutenant governor, David Dewhurst, over Ted Cruz in 2012, per the Washington Times. http://bit.ly/1Eu1sBh

** A message from Fuels America: The Renewable Fuel Standard is providing American consumers with growing access to a range of homegrown, renewable fuel options that cost less than regular gasoline while delivering higher octane and better engine performance. Without the RFS, oil companies – who control the retail fueling infrastructure through their supplier contracts – would have a free hand to block these less expensive fuels from coming to the market.

No one is asking Congress to "pick winners and losers." What America’s renewable fuel producers are asking for, however, is a chance to make our product available to consumers. Learn more: http://bit.ly/1NjPRWF **